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OpenFOAM description
OpenFOAM is a free, open-source software designed for computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This means it can simulate how liquids and gases flow, making it useful for a wide range of engineering and science applications. It's used by both businesses and universities for things like designing airplanes, understanding weather patterns, and even improving product packaging. While powerful, being open-source means it might require more technical expertise to use effectively than some commercial alternatives.
Who is OpenFOAM best for
OpenFOAM is a free, open-source CFD software ideal for engineers and scientists familiar with Linux and C++. We find that its customizability and extensive solvers make it a favorite, especially where users need to adapt the software to specific research needs. Keep in mind the lack of a GUI and steeper learning curve compared to commercial options.
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Great for large enterprises (1001+ employees) and suitable for mid-sized companies (101-1000 employees) seeking adaptable CFD.
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Well-aligned for manufacturing, education, and automotive/aerospace/defense sectors needing detailed fluid dynamics analysis.
OpenFOAM features
Supported Free and Open Source: OpenFOAM is free and open-source. |
Supported Large User Base: OpenFOAM has a large user base across most areas of engineering and science, from both commercial and academic organisations. |
Supported Extensive Features: OpenFOAM has an extensive range of features to solve anything from complex fluid flows involving chemical reactions, turbulence and heat transfer, to acoustics, solid mechanics and electromagnetics. |
Supported Regular Releases: OpenFOAM is professionally released every six months to include customer sponsored developments and contributions from the community. |
Supported Customizable and Extensible: OpenFOAM is customizable and extensible, allowing users to tailor the software to their specific needs. |
Supported High-Performance Computing: OpenFOAM is parallelized for use on high-performance computing clusters, enabling efficient simulations of large and complex systems. |
Supported Community Support: OpenFOAM is supported by a large and active community of users and developers, providing a wealth of resources and support. |
Supported Rigorous Testing: OpenFOAM undergoes rigorous testing to ensure quality and reliability. |
OpenFOAM reviews
We've summarised 35 OpenFOAM reviews (OpenFOAM G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.
- Free and open-source, allowing for customization and code modification.
- Extensive solvers and models for various CFD applications.
- Highly customizable and adaptable to specific research needs.
- Good documentation and active user base despite being open-source.
- Excellent parallel processing capabilities for large-scale simulations.
- Steep learning curve and can be difficult to learn initially.
- Lacks a graphical user interface (GUI), making it less user-friendly.
- Limited resources and community support compared to commercial alternatives.
- Post-processing can be challenging, especially for complex simulations.
- SnappyHexMesh, the built-in meshing tool, has limitations, particularly with inflation layers.
OpenFOAM pricing
The commentary is based on 5 reviews from OpenFOAM G2 reviews.
OpenFOAM is free and open-source, which is its biggest advantage according to users. We find this makes it a cost-effective choice for those willing to invest the time needed to learn its complexities.
Users sentiment
See the OpenFOAM pricing page.
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OpenFOAM has a free plan.
OpenFOAM alternatives
OpenFOAM FAQ
OpenFOAM is a free, open-source software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD). We find it's a powerful tool used in various fields like engineering and science for simulating fluid flow, from designing airplanes to understanding weather patterns.
What is OpenFOAM and what does OpenFOAM do?
OpenFOAM is a free, open-source software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD). We find it's a powerful tool used in various fields like engineering and science for simulating fluid flow, from designing airplanes to understanding weather patterns.
We find that OpenFOAM's integration capabilities are primarily focused on its open-source nature and customizability. This allows users to integrate with other tools using C++ libraries and scripts. There is no pre-built integrations mentioned in the product information.
How does OpenFOAM integrate with other tools?
We find that OpenFOAM's integration capabilities are primarily focused on its open-source nature and customizability. This allows users to integrate with other tools using C++ libraries and scripts. There is no pre-built integrations mentioned in the product information.
We find that OpenFOAM's main competitors include Ansys Fluent, Ansys CFX, and Star-CCM+, which are commercial CFD software options offering user-friendly interfaces and extensive support. Other alternatives, like CONVERGE and SimScale, provide cloud-based solutions.
What the main competitors of OpenFOAM?
We find that OpenFOAM's main competitors include Ansys Fluent, Ansys CFX, and Star-CCM+, which are commercial CFD software options offering user-friendly interfaces and extensive support. Other alternatives, like CONVERGE and SimScale, provide cloud-based solutions.
We find OpenFOAM to be a legitimate and widely used open-source CFD software. It's free, powerful, and backed by a large community. However, keep in mind that it has a steeper learning curve compared to commercial alternatives.
Is OpenFOAM legit?
We find OpenFOAM to be a legitimate and widely used open-source CFD software. It's free, powerful, and backed by a large community. However, keep in mind that it has a steeper learning curve compared to commercial alternatives.
OpenFOAM is free and open-source software, so there is no cost to use it. We find it's a powerful tool for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and worth considering if you need this type of software.
How much does OpenFOAM cost?
OpenFOAM is free and open-source software, so there is no cost to use it. We find it's a powerful tool for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and worth considering if you need this type of software.
Based on user reviews, OpenFOAM's community support is generally considered good, despite being open-source. While resources may be limited compared to commercial products, the active user base and available documentation are often highlighted as positive aspects.
Is OpenFOAM customer service good?
Based on user reviews, OpenFOAM's community support is generally considered good, despite being open-source. While resources may be limited compared to commercial products, the active user base and available documentation are often highlighted as positive aspects.
Reviewed by
Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.
Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.
An AI tool that observes your work, finds inefficiencies, and suggests smarter ways to do things. Maybe you can use your tools better, automate tasks, or switch software.